Managing digital photos and videos can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when these memories are spread across different platforms. Users often store their images in Google Photos but might need to transfer them to Google Drive for backup purposes or to manage storage space. Transferring photos from Google Photos to Google Drive is not only about moving files; it’s an essential process for organizing digital assets, enabling easier accessibility, and ensuring that precious memories are safely stored.
Google Photos and Google Drive, both part of the Google cloud storage ecosystem, have different primary functions. Google Photos is designed to store photos and videos, while Google Drive serves as a storage hub for all types of files. Despite differences in their primary use, moving content between the two services might be beneficial for streamlining file organization and making sure everything is backed up. Google offers users several ways to perform this task, each with its steps and methods that users can utilize.
How to Move Photos from Google Photos to Google Drive
Google Photos and Google Drive are both part of Google’s cloud ecosystem — but since 2019, they no longer automatically sync. That means if you want your photos in Google Drive, you’ll need to manually transfer or use Google Takeout or a third-party sync tool.
This guide covers all current methods for moving your photos safely and efficiently.
🧠 Understanding the Difference
- Google Photos: Designed for storing and organizing photos and videos, with AI features like face recognition and automatic albums.
- Google Drive: A general-purpose cloud storage service for all file types — documents, PDFs, images, videos, and more.
After Google separated the two services, photos uploaded to Google Photos no longer appear in Google Drive automatically (source: CBackup).
🪄 Method 1: Manually Download and Upload
✅ Best for: Moving a small number of photos
- Open Google Photos
Go to photos.google.com and sign in. - Select Photos
Hover over the photos you want to move and click the checkmark icon. - Download Them
Click the three-dot menu (⋮) → Download.
The photos will be saved as a.zipfile. - Upload to Google Drive
- Go to drive.google.com
- Click + New → File upload or Folder upload
- Choose the downloaded photos or folder
💡 Tip: You can create a dedicated folder in Drive called “Google Photos Backup” for organization.
📦 Method 2: Use Google Takeout
✅ Best for: Transferring large libraries or all your photos at once
Google Takeout is Google’s official tool for exporting your data.
- Visit Google Takeout.
- Under Select data to include, choose Google Photos.
- Click Next step.
- Under Destination, choose Add to Drive.
- Click Create export.
Google will then:
- Collect all your photos and albums
- Upload them automatically to your Google Drive
- Notify you when the process is complete
📁 The exported photos will appear in a folder named “Takeout” in your Drive.
(Source: Pics.io)
🔄 Method 3: Use a Cloud Sync Tool (Automatic Transfer)
✅ Best for: Continuous syncing between Google Photos and Drive
If you regularly upload new photos and want them to appear in Drive automatically, use a cloud-to-cloud sync service such as:
- CBackup (guide)
- MultCloud
- CloudHQ
These tools allow you to:
- Connect both your Google Photos and Google Drive accounts
- Set up automatic synchronization (e.g., daily or weekly)
- Keep both folders updated without manual downloads
💡 Example using CBackup:
- Sign up at CBackup.com.
- Connect both your Google Photos and Google Drive accounts.
- Go to Sync Tasks → New Task.
- Choose Google Photos as the source and Google Drive as the destination.
- Click Start Sync.
📱 Method 4: Move Photos from Your Phone to Google Drive
If your photos are stored locally on your phone (and synced to Google Photos), you can save them directly to Google Drive:
- Open the Google Photos app.
- Select the photos you want.
- Tap the Share icon → Save to Drive.
- Choose your Drive account and folder, then tap Save.
(Source: Google Drive Community)
🧩 Tips for Managing Your Photos
- Storage Limits: Both Google Photos and Drive share your Google One storage quota — so moving photos doesn’t free up space.
- File Structure: Takeout exports photos organized by album folders.
- Backup First: Always keep a local backup before deleting anything from Google Photos.
- Use Google One: If you need more space, consider upgrading your Google One plan.
✅ Summary
| Method | Best For | Tools Needed | Automation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual Download/Upload | Small photo sets | Browser | ❌ |
| Google Takeout | Full library transfers | Google Takeout | ⚙️ Semi-auto |
| Cloud Sync Tools | Continuous sync | CBackup, MultCloud | ✅ |
| Save from Phone | Mobile users | Google Photos app | ❌ |
🔗 References
- CBackup – Sync Photos to Google Drive
- Pics.io – Move Photos from Google Photos to Google Drive
- Google Drive Community – Move Photos from Phone to Drive
- CLRN.org – Transfer Photos Between Google Services
Key Takeaways
- Transferring photos from Google Photos to Google Drive helps organize and back up digital content.
- Google provides several methods for moving photos and videos to Drive.
- Effective file management includes understanding how to use cloud storage effectively to access and protect files.
Preparing to Move Photos from Google Photos to Google Drive
Transferring your memories from Google Photos to Google Drive can be simple. With a clear guide, you will understand the relationship between the two services and how to manage your digital storage needs efficiently.
Understanding Google Photos and Google Drive
Google Photos is a cloud storage service for photos and videos that syncs with your Google account. It offers two quality settings for your uploads: High Quality, which compresses photos but offers free unlimited storage, and Original Quality, which uses storage space from your Google Drive quota. Google Drive, on the other hand, is a broader cloud storage service that can hold various file types including documents, pictures, and videos.
Assessing Your Storage Space Needs
Before moving your photos, check your Google Drive storage quota to make sure you have enough space. Photos saved in Original Quality will count against your storage limit, while High Quality photos won’t, if uploaded before a certain date. It’s essential to tidy up your Drive and remove unnecessary files to free up space for the photos you plan to transfer.
Choosing Between Google Takeout and Backup and Sync
To move your photos and videos, you have two main options. Google Takeout lets you export all of your data, while Backup and Sync is a downloadable tool that allows you to select specific folders for synchronization with your computer. After syncing, you can then move your photos to Google Drive manually. Each method suits different needs, so choose the one that aligns with your preferences for the move.
